The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-13
Consider Well These Facts.

bition amendment makes very Conspicuous
one fact which would have been very discour-
aging to the prohibitionists had the amend
ment been carried. 1t shows that the senti-
ment for prohibition is very weak in those
localities in which il would necessarily have
to be- very strong to make prohibition pro-
hibit." In other words, the prohibition
sentiment of the state is found to be strongest
in the rural districts, where there are few or
no saloons. The big majorities for the
amendment came from these rural districts,
and the big majorities against the amendment
came from the cities and centers, where the
bulk of the liquor traffic exists.
Now the point we wish to emphasize is
this. If the amendment had carried, it
would have been carried by a vote which is
utterly powerless to enforce prohibition in
Detroit or any other of the cities of the state
where the bulk of the liquor traffic is found.
Public sentiment in a prohibition county
| cannot be transferred from that county to an
anti-prohibition county. Public sentiment
in a prohibition county may indeed help
| adopt a prohibition amendment to the state
constitution, but after its adoption and
prohibition law is enacted in harmony there
with, the enforcement of the law in Wayne
county, for instance, is left to the officers of
Wayne county, where the majority against
prohibition is to-day over 10000. Can the
banner prohibition county in the state do
the first thing toward securing the enforce
ment of a prohibition law in Wayne county?
Think of it. Can the prohibition sentiment
of the state be transferred from localities
where there is no liquor traffic to be prohib
tied or restrained, to other localities where
the traffic and little or no prohibition senti-
ment is found? If it could be, there would
be reason to believe that prohibition law
could be enforced.-DetIOit Tribune.
The NoRTHERNER has no sympathy with
the constantly reiterated idea that prohibi-
tory law cannot be enforced. There may be
places in the state of Michigan, places like
Wayne county, where, perhaps, such a law
would not be enforced simply because the
people prefer it should go unenforced. To
say that such law cannot be executed is
| folly. To say that the American people
cannot enforce righteous statute legally
enacted, is to acknowledge that they are far
advanced on the road TO anarchy.
1t is true that the big majorities for the
amendment came from the rural districts,
and the big majorities against the amend
ment came from the centers where the bulk
of the liquor traffic exists" as the Tribune
states. But what class of people is it that
gave those big majorities? Are not the
inhabitants of the "rural districts as we'll
entitled to have voice III the matter as
those who live in the midst of the whiskey
traffic? Are not the inhabitants of those
localities that gave the "big majorities" for
prohibition as intelligent and as well-disposed
toward the public welfare as those who live
in the cities? Is there any comparison to be
made between the moral order loving people
Of the "banner prohibition county"-Yan
Buren-and those wards of the city of De
troit where nearly unanimous whiskey vote
was polled? Between the honest yeomanry
of this county and the Detroit Polacks?
Between the farmers and business men of
Van Buren, and the thugs, thieves, pimps.
gamblers and ruifains of the Potomac quar-
ter: As well institute comparison between
heaven and hades.
1t is true that the rural districts can help
ddopt' a constitutional amendment and. un-
fortunately, it is equally true that the scum
of the large cities can help dteot the same
measure.
We would not by any means be understood
as CHASING all the residents OF cities who
voted against the prohibitory amendment
with the disreputable classes above noted, for
many who opposed the measure are good
Lott nd No I'll
But We do mean to say that had it not been
for the votes Of the disreputable and unde-
sirable population Of Detroit, the amendment
would have been adopted. 1t was by the aid
of their votes that the measure was defeated.
Deplorable as it may seem, il is, under
republican system of government, impossible
to prevent such people from sometimes pos
sessing the balance of power and from die
tating the policy of the government. both state
and National.
But as the NoRTHERNEE has no desire to
misrcpresent tho position of its highly es-
teemed contemporary in this matter, it is but
Just to state that the extract above quoted
waa .tlsen from al article advocating county
local option as practical means of dealing
with the liquor traffic. The NoRTHERNER is
firm in the opinion that constitutional prohi-
bition ought to have been supported by
every voter who has the best interests of the
state at heart, but if that cannot be had, it
will advocate any other measure that offers
fair opportunity TO restrain the liquor
traffic and advance the cause of temperance.
If we cannot have full prohibition, let us
have partial prohibition. Half loaf is
better than no bread. Local option by
counties. with an increased tax and increased
restriction for such localities as do not elect
to prohibit, would be a vast improvement on
the present system.